NO BORDERS for TRIBAL RELIGIOUS RIGHTS

Tribal, State Leaders, Prisoners’ Rights Advocates, Theologians to Bring Attention to

Religious Plight of Native American Prisoners in Washington State

Seattle University Law School Event to Advance Reform Movement Concerning Washington State Corrections Religious Policies Affecting Indian Inmates, Particularly in the Wake of the Monroe Corrections Center Tragedy

For information, contact Eric Eberhard, (206) 398-4074 or eberhare@seattleu.edu or Gabe Galanda, (206) 300-7801 or gabe@galandabroadman.com

Seattle, WA – On Monday, March 28, from 3 to 5 PM, Seattle University Law School’s Center for Indian Law and Policy and Native American Law Students’ Association’s will host tribal leaders, State Department of Corrections representatives, Indian prison chaplains and other tribal religious leaders, prisoners’ and civil rights advocates, and religious academics, for a program: “Protecting the Right of Native and Indian Inmates Incarcerated in the State of Washington Prison System to Engage in Traditional Ceremonies and Religious Practices.” 

Invited speakers include:

·     Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Chairman, and Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians President Brian Cladoosby

·         Seattle University Law School Dean Mark Niles

·         Seattle University Law School Center for Indian Law and Policy Doug Nash

·         Seattle University Law School Distinguished Indian Law Practitioner in Residence –    Eric Eberhard

·        Washington State Department of Corrections Assistant Secretary for Government, Community Relations and Regulatory Compliance John Scott Blonien

·         Monroe Corrections Complex Native Chaplain Whaa ka dup/Robert Monger

·         Local Indian lawyer and tribal prisoners’ rights advocate Gabriel Galanda of Galanda Broadman, PLLC

·         ACLU of Washington Staff Attorney and prisoners’ rights advocate Nancy Talner

·         Seattle University Religious Studies Professors

Local tribal leaders and representatives of the Washington State Governor’s Office have also been invited to attend and speak.  A large crowd of members of the local Native American, legal, law school and civic communities are expected to attend.  The event will be held in the second floor “gallery” at Seattle University Law School.

Editor’s Note: Media are welcome to attend.  Please RSVP to Lupe Ceballos, ceballosl@seattleu.edu.  For background information, read the column published in  Indian Country Today in September 2010, which is available at: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:6Q1fvDw8HJcJ:www.indiancountrytoday.com/opinion/columnists/Completing-the-circle-Advancing-Native-inmate-religious-rights-102102379.html%3Fcorder%3Dreverse+completing+the+circle+galanda&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com

FISH LAKE SAVED…..FOR NOW!

Recently, Minister of Environment, Jim Prentice announced that the Taeseko Mines Project would not go ahead…..catch phrase….in it’s current form!  So we can celebrate, but I sense we need to stay in touch with this issue in case Taeseko Mines comes forth with another form of proposal.

Here is hoping that FISH LAKE AND ALL THAT GOES WITH IT IS REALLY SAFE FOR ALL TI!ME!

 

HELP WANTED: SAVE FISH LAKE!

SEND YOUR LETTER TODAY TO

JIM PRENTICE, MP

HOUSE OF COMMONS, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1A 0A6

Request that Tshilqot’in Nation’s Fish Lake and all other lakes in Canada be protected by amending the Fisheries Act to ban the use of our lakes for tailing ponds for Mining companies.

After attending a meeting last night at the Maritime Labour Union Hall, 1800 Triumph Street, Vancouver, I feel totally inspired to ask every Canadian to help save Fish Lake. 

Rex Weyler, Co-founder of Greenpeace Canada spoke of how it is up to us to protect all living things.   He explained that nature stops growing!  There is no growth after maturity.  In fact in the human body an excess of growth manifests as cancer.  In nature species level off their growth and live in harmony.  Our current economic system is based on growth.  We have a new paradym to go through.  We must learn that we are not the center of this earth.  We took all the low hanging fruit first!  Our resources are in decline.  We have reached peak oil, wood, copper.  But wait, our growth has more than exceeded the level that the planet can provide for us.  That is why now that the oil has been drilled out of the earth, corporations are drilling the ocean’s floor because our economic system is based on growth.  And yes, the Alberta tar sands is another example of squeezing our planet while destroying precious eco-systems.  The copper has been taken from the mountains so now companies such as Taseko are proposing to do 3 mile wide open pit mine and to do this, drain the 15 mile long Fish Lake that is on The Tshilqot’in Nation’s lands.  You can help by writing a letter today to Jim Prentice, address is above!  To read more by Rex Weyler check out http://rexweyler.com/greenpeace/

Chief Marylin Baptiste spoke about the recent Environmental Assessment which promises to deliver results on July 2nd and explained that even if they do recommend against the Mining project at Fish Lake it will still be up to the Federal Government to decide.  She asked for people to participate on June 28th at the Williams Lake Stampede when their band members will do a Run for Fish Lake and arrive at the stampede.  Also please visit their site and watch the film “Blue Gold” and you will understand the travesty of this Mining Proposal.  http://www.protectfishlake.ca/video-bluegold.php/  She concluded by saying that “Our land is not for sale.”

Maude Barlow from the Council of Canadians spoke about how we were taught in school that Canada has 20% of the world’s water and how this is incorrect.  Canada actually has 6.5% of the world’s water.  Our water legislation is 40 years old and we do not have natural drinking water standards.  We have no protection in place for our ground water and in fact we haven’t even mapped it yet.  However, the Canadian government is giving water rights free to other countries and because of NAFTA Chapter 11 we can even be sued if we deny this.  We need to challenge the new legislation which now also allows unprecedented access to foreign investors at the municipal and provincial levels.  The virtual water trade, that is the water used to grow things and then export them needs to be regulated.  Alberta, Saskatchewan and parts of B.C. are particularly vulnerable in this area.  We have 1300 Glaciers and with rising tempuratures we have no plan to save them.  Recent Trade Agreements made by the Federal Government are aimed at subnational privatization of water.  The Fisheries Act brought in by the Liberal Government under the Mining and Metals Act was first intended to make use of dead lakes for tailing ponds for Mining companies.  However, twenty healthy lakes are now toxic waste sites in Canada as the rules relaxed and permission was granted to use these completely healthy fresh water lakes as tailing ponds.  She mentioned that this June 3rd, there is a court case involving Sandy Pond that challenges Schedule 2 an amendment to the Fisheries Act under Mining and Metals Act that has perpetuated the use of these fresh water lakes.  The challenge is this.  That you can not have a law and then amend that law so that the new law actually breaks the old law!  I am quite optimistic about this court case and will keep you posted.  Given that common sense prevails and this court case is won, this will mean that Fish Lake is saved along with our other fresh water lakes that are upA for grabs.  We cannot rely on this, however and I still urge you to take a few minutes to write to Jim Prentice, MP,  House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, V1A 0A6 and request that Fish Lake and all Canadian fresh water lakes be protected by banning their use as tailing ponds for Mining companies through permanent legislation to the Fisheries Act.

Maude continued to say that all of this is taking place within the global backdrop of the water crisis.  We are running out of water.  China, India, 22 African countries, Mexico city are all Hot States.  That is they are out of water.  We need to shift from thinking water is abundant to seeing water as a living, breathing eco-system.  We need to build our lives around our resources.  We need to hold the Global North responsible for the damage it has caused to our Mother Earth.  She talked about her recent visit to Cocachamba, Bolivia and how through the peaceful Peoples Summit a Universal Declaration of Rights for Mother Earth was drawn up.  This will be presented and hopefully passed at the United Nations.  To learn more visit http://theblueplanetproject.net  or http://canadians.ca .  Recently in Vermont, USA, the citizens declared water as a Public Trust.  Water as a Human Right has been proposed at the United Nations in 2009 by Maude Barlow while she was serving as Water Advisor at the UN.  The World Bank recently did a study and calculated at our current rate of consumption within 20 years we will have outstriped our water supply by 40%.  An important event to take in is a continuation of the People’s Summit that was held in Bolivia.  This is on June 10th at Simon Fraser University, Harbour Center, Vancouver, B.C. and there will be updates on Cocachamba.  Check out the Bolvia Solidarity site to learn more.  http://boliviasolidarity.com

In the end, it comes back to community.  We are the community and we do have a voice.  I believe our freedom and our survival on this planet depends upon staying informed and taking some form of action.  A good friend of mine, mentioned on the way home from the meeting last night, “We can’t afford to be uninformed any longer.” 

I cannot always get to events but I can write a letter and so can you!  Please write today to help save Fish Lake. 

I would like to add that the opening speaker Bertha Williams of the Tsawassen Band (hope I have the spelling correct!) gave a very heartfelt talk about her struggles to retain her land rights without modifications and having failed to find resolution through the B.C. Treaty Process and the Federal Government has now taken the matter to the United Nations.  The United Nations are tabling her request.  I admire her courage and really hope that the United Nations will order that her land be held without modifications.

Further, just a strange little note that during the question period, Bob Agis (not sure of the spelling as he didn’t stay) (which riding?) apologized for being a politician, apologized for not asking a question and then apologized for having to leave.  He then commented on unrelated matters and left the meeting. 

You can make a difference, Puleeease write your letter to SAVE FISH LAKE TODAY!

Thank you!

 Comments are most welcome.

DESTINY OF FISH LAKE IN HANDS OF GOVT.

Well, the Environmental Review is finished.  Done.  Everyone has said their opinion, including the Mining Company which has proposed to trash this amazing lake in favour of a “Prosperity” pond.  I can only hope and pray that logic will prevail.  The results are promised to be made public on July 2nd, 2010. 

If the answer is NO to using Fish Lake as dumping site for the mining company we can breath a sigh of relief.  If the answer is YES to this project we must continue to fight to save Fish Lake.  It will be very obvious that the environment is not a priority nor are the rights of the Fisrt Nations people if this is a go ahead.  Rather the rights of corporations and profit will be put first. 

I will be posting the results and again I am hopeful that common sense and a compassionate response towards both the First Nations People and our environment will result in a NO go ahead for this project.

BIG BUSINESS OR THE B.C. ENVIRONMENT? WHO IS CHOOSING?

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE……..

BELOW IS MY LETTER TO THE MANAGER OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE TASEKO MINES OPEN PIT PROJECT THAT WILL POTENTIALLY DESTROY FISH LAKE AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHEDS.

Dear Colette Spagnuolo,

I am writing to protest that Taseko Mines Ltd., a private corporation, with only their financial interests in mind, have even been included in this Environmental Review.

Certainly, you can’t be seriously thinking of destroying Fish Lake and then building a pond called Prosperity Lake and then planting a few fish in there to make up for the destruction of Fish Lake? Even a grade schooler could see the implications of this action. The Tailings Pond legislation needs to be killed. Whoever, slipped this through parliament had only corporate interests in mind, not the welfare of our environment or the needs of Canadian citizens.

Also, just when did it become possible for a corporation to say what is best for our environment? And furthermore it is outrageous that they have been given two hours to close the final remarks of this public hearing. They should be first to speak, with a simple outline of their project. 30 minutes maximum. Then those who know about the environment should speak so that all the environmental facts can be gathered. Who is running this, anyway, the government or big business.

I don’t expect any reply from you. But please be aware that I will continue to post this information on my blog http://standupforcanada.wordpress.com and I will be writing to the Editors of several newspapers. You need to know what Canadian citizens want done. We don’t want tailing ponds. We do not want open pit mines and we want our environment protected, especially our water and forests.

Sincerely

Laara WilliamSen

 It’s not too late to make a difference! The final Hearing is set for May lst. 

Please VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

http://www.protectfishlake.ca/

THEN EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING;

Honourable Blair Lekstrom
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca

Blair.Lekstrom.MLA@leg.bc.ca
250 387-5896 

Honourable Barry Penner, Minister of the Environment
Barry.Penner@gov.bc.ca
Barry.Penner.MLA@leg.bc.ca
250 387-1187

 

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
1-866-582-1884
613-957-0700
info@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of the Environment (Canada)
819-997-1441
Minister@ec.gc.ca

RE: Protect Fish Lake – Teztan Biny

This is my urgent request to both the federal and provincial governments to revoke any and all governmental agreements to use the Tlihogo’qin homeland and the Taseko River/Fraser River watershed as a “tailing pond” for the proposed open pit gold mining project.  This is a section of my letter. 

FACTS;

Taseko Mines Ltd. is proposing to construct an open-pit copper and gold mine in the heart of Tsilhqot’in Territory, 125 km west of Williams Lake B.C. If the project were to proceed it would

* drain the beautiful, culturally important and rainbow trout filled (85,000 genetically unique rainbow) Textan Biny (Fish Lake)

 

* destroy another rich trout fishing lake, Nabas (Little Fish Lake

 

* eliminate cultural sites dating to at least 5,500 years ago

 

* create an open pit 800 m deep and 1600 m in diameter

  

* create 858 million tonnes of tailings and 358 million tons of waste rock

 

* deposit waste in the Upper Fish Creek watershed eliminating the creek, Little Fish Lake and terrestrial habitat for grizzly bears

 

* create a reservoir adjacent to the tailings impoundment in order to compensate for the permanent loss of fish habitat

* put a permanent environmental liability in the headwaters of the Fish Creek, a tributary of the Taseko and Fraser Rivers

* create up to 33 years of employment and economic development for the region,

but…

* insert a crew of up to 800 miners into a small First Nations Community and put at risk their precarious recovery from years of government and residential school abuse 

 

* jepoadize or destroy a wilderness lodge industry that requires untouched wilderness

 to thrive

 

  

* destroy the environment virtually beyond repair as stated above.

 

The Canadian Environmental Assessement Committee just emailed me with the information that ONLY TAESKO MINES will be summarizing the Topic Specific Discussions in April;  Following is my email to them:

 

“Why is Taesko Mines the only party responding to Topic Specific sessions.  They are a corporation and should be required to be present only to supply the facts of their project.  Not their opinions.  Again I ask you, who is running these sessions?  It is not up to Taesko Mines to summarize or give their opinions.  This is a fact finding Public Hearing.”

 

I would only hope that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Committee would read my email and then decide that in fact……

oh, by the way…..

THEY are the ones who need to summarize this information!

 

PLEASE WRITE TO THE ABOVE PARTIES.  IT IS NOT TO LATE TO EFFECT A CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION THAT THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS TAKING….

 

FIRST NATIONS FACE THREAT BY LOGGING

SUPPORT CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR THE OKANAGAN FIRST NATIONS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS;

TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT SIGN THE PETITION;

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW!

http://www.facebook.com/l/09da2;www.petitionspot.com/petitions/brownscreek

 The Okanagan band began the protest March 3, 2010  in response to threats from Tolko to commence logging of the watershed that supplies the majority of the 1,800 residents of the Okanagan First Nations Band with their drinking water.   Given the failure of the Crown to protect the health and safety of  this community they were left with no other choice.

The Okanagan First Nations Band is seeking a moratorium against commercial logging of Brown Lake and it’s watersheds to protect their Human Right to Water.  Advisor for the U.N. in 2009 and current Council of Canadians activist, Maude Barlow, initiated Water as a Human Right in 2009 at the United Nations.

A petition to enact this moratorium is being circulated.  Please get on board and support this urgent matter by signing the petition.  We must stop this wanton destruction of our water resources.  This is also a First Nations burial ground and ceremonial site and should not be violated for this reason as well. You can click on the link below to sign:

http://www.facebook.com/l/09da2;www.petitionspot.com/petitions/brownscreek

FIGHT HST MEETING – 1,200 ATTEND

Over 1,200 British Columbian’s packed the Star of the Sea Church hall in White Rock, at 7:30 pm, tonight, April 9th, to hear Bill Vander Zalm speak about the actions being taken to rescind the agreement between the Federal and B.C. Provincial government to charge HST on everything from haircuts to services such as grass cutting.  The former British Columbia Premier and Social Credit politician, stated that 85% of the people of British Columbia are opposed to the HST and that he was putting aside any political affiliations because we need to address this issue together.  He originally began this “Fight the HST” journey because his wife suggested that he write a letter to a newspaper to express his immense dissatisfaction with Premier Gordon Campbell’s broken promise.  Following his photo and article on the front page of a large newspaper, he received 846 emails within 24 hours.  He realized then that he needed to do something.  At that point, his previous political associate Chris Delaney came on board and a Provincial Strategy Team was formed.

Expressing genuine concern for the seniors, students, working families and low income people who will be hit the hardest with this tax, he told of recently visiting the Kootenays, Kitimat and the Northern parts of B.C. where the support has been overwhelming.  He explained how the federal government will pay to the province of British Columbia the sum of $1.6 billion dollars which will not be earmarked for social services but will be invested into large corporations.  The average British Columbian will not see $1.00 of this money.  Shareholders of companies such as Chevron Oil, Kominco and Alcan will realize a profit instead.  For the average working family this HST means an additional $2,100.00 annually. 

Chris Delaney explained that the Strategy Plan is three fold.

One: Complete the petition by having 10% of the registered voters in all 85 political ridings sign the petition.   Actually the petition will have 15% just to cover all contingencies.  Next this takes the form of a Bill that will be  brought forth in the B.C. legislature.  The Bill has three sections; 1. Rescind or repeal the legislation for the HST. 2. Re-instate the PST as we know it today. 3. Refund to British Columbians any HST collected over and above the GST and PST.

Two: Beginning in November of this year, any MLA who does not support this Bill to rescind the HST will be targeted for recall.  In effect the MLA will be fired once 40% of their riding signs a petition to implement this.

Three: Legal Challenge; A constitution lawyer will draft a legal opinion based on the fact that the HST is unconstitutional.  Under Section 92 of the constitution of Canada, each province is solely responsible for collecting their own taxes.  With the HST the province is collecting taxes for the federal government and this is wrong.  Once the legal letter of opinion is submitted to court it is likely to delay the HST being implemented while the courts investigate it and eventually rule it out.

I personally found the event very empowering.  We need so much to feel our community and be a part of it.  Especially in these times of globalization where we are discouraged from acting as a community.  It was wonderful to see so many people all together and all working for the same cause.  This can not happen.  It is just too much on the backs of those who already can’t afford it.  It is really time that we voice our opinions and I am grateful to Mr. Vander Zalm, Mr. Delaney and the other Provincial Strategy Team Members for the organizational work, the inspiring events and the faith they have in our right to choose.  We will win on this one!  Please visit the website to find out how you can sign the petition to stop the HST.  http://fightHST.com